Packers still hurting on defensive line

Dec. 10, 2012

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After having only four defensive linemen available for 84 plays on Sunday, Ryan Pickett grinned when asked afterward if he thought either C.J. Wilson or Mike Neal could be back for this Sunday’s game against Chicago.

“I sure hope so,” said Pickett with a laugh. “If we have to play with four again, we will, but it would be great if one or both of them come back.”

On Monday, McCarthy admitted Wilson hasn’t seen as much progress as he hoped in his injured knee that kept the third-year defensive lineman out the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, a shoulder injury held Neal out of Sunday’s game, which caused the Packers to remain strictly in their sub-package formations with only one or two defensive linemen on the field at a given time.

With how infrequently the Lions run, the strategy worked on both occasions the Packers played Detroit this season, but could it work again if the Packers have only four defensive linemen available against the Bears?

“Well, we’ll see,” Capers said. “Hopefully, we’ll have five available. If we don’t, we’ll have to scheme like we did this week and deal with having four. I thought our four guys inside did a nice job.”